TECHNICAL
PROCEDURE
Trailer Suspension Systems

SUBJECT:Alignment Procedures

LIT NO: L579
DATE: December 2015
REVISION: F
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Conventions Applied in this Document.................................................................................................... 2
General Service Notes............................................................................................................................ 2
During Service:................................................................................................................................. 2
Important Safety Notices.................................................................................................................... 2
Contacting Hendrickson..................................................................................................................... 4
Relative Literature.............................................................................................................................. 4
Preparing Trailer for Service................................................................................................................ 5
Tools And Equipment.............................................................................................................................. 5
TORX® Sockets.................................................................................................................................. 6
Pivot Connection - Frame Bracket........................................................................................................... 7
Pivot Connection - Welded Collar........................................................................................................ 7
Pivot Connection - QUIK-ALIGN® ......................................................................................................... 8
Pivot Connection - Y-Beam..................................................................................................................... 8
Alignment Background........................................................................................................................... 9
Alignment Preparations........................................................................................................................ 12
Select The Alignment Area................................................................................................................ 12
Perform Tire Inspection.................................................................................................................... 12
Set Suspension Ride Height.............................................................................................................. 12
Properly Position The Trailer............................................................................................................. 12
Set Designed Kingpin Height............................................................................................................ 13
Axle Alignment.................................................................................................................................... 13
Kingpin to Front Axle Alignment Check............................................................................................... 13
Axle-Axle Alignment Check............................................................................................................... 16
Axle Alignment Adjustment.................................................................................................................. 18
QUIK-ALIGN® Axle Adjustment........................................................................................................... 18
Welded Collar Axle Adjustment......................................................................................................... 20
Self‑steer Axle Alignment..................................................................................................................... 21
Self‑steer Alignment Summary.......................................................................................................... 21
Locking The Self‑Steer Axle............................................................................................................... 22
Checking Toe.................................................................................................................................. 23
Pivot Connection Hardware Troubleshooting.......................................................................................... 24
Appendix A:Axle Target Value Sample Calculation............................................................................... 27
Alignment Procedures 
CONVENTIONS APPLIED IN THIS
DOCUMENT
GENERAL SERVICE NOTES
IMPORTANT: Special attention should be paid to the
information included in EXPLANATION
OF SIGNAL WORDS.
This section explains the techniques used in this
document to convey important information, safety
issues, how to contact Hendrickson and how to apply
hyperlinks.
Before you begin:
Read, understand and comply with:
• All maintenance, service, installation and
diagnostic instructions and procedures for
Hendrickson, the trailer manufacturer and the repair
facility.
• All signal word (CAUTION, WARNING and
DANGER) statements to help avoid personal injury
or property damage.
• Vehicle manufacturer’s safety instructions when
working on the vehicle.
• Vehicle manufacturer’s instructions for
recommended practices not described in this
manual.
• All applicable governmental safety regulations.
EXPLANATION OF SIGNAL WORDS
Hazard signal words (such as DANGER, WARNING
or CAUTION) appear in various locations throughout
this publication. Information accented by one of these
signal words must be observed at all times. Additional
notes are utilized to emphasize areas of procedural
importance and provide suggestions for ease of repair.
The following definitions comply with ANSI Z535.4
and indicate the use of safety signal words as they
appear throughout the publication.
DANGER:INDICATES IMMEDIATE HAZARDS
WHICH WILL RESULT IN SEVERE
PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
WARNING:Indicates hazards or unsafe practices
which could result in severe personal
injury or death.
DURING SERVICE:
• Work must be carried out by trained personnel.
• Sudden release of brake chamber springs (e.g. the
spring brake part of the brake chamber or the brake
return spring) may cause injury.
• Use recommended tools only.
• Before releasing trailer back into service, perform
operational checks and test the trailer to make sure
brakes are working correctly.
CAUTION:Indicates a hazardous situation
which, if not avoided, could result in
minor or moderate injury.
NOTICE:Indicates hazards or unsafe practices
which could result in damage to
machine or equipment.
IMPORTANT: An operating procedure, practice
or condition that is essential to
emphasize.
Hendrickson reserves the right to make changes and
improvements to its products and publications at any
time. Consult the Hendrickson website
(www.Hendrickson-intl.com) for the latest version of
this manual.
Safety alert symbol used to indicate
a condition exists that may result in
personal injury or harm to individuals.
It must be applied to DANGER,
WARNING and CAUTION statements,
which emphasize severity.
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICES
Proper installation, maintenance, service and
repair is important to the reliable operation of the
suspension system. The procedures recommended
by Hendrickson and described in this publication
are methods of performing inspection, maintenance,
service and repair.
LINKS
Links are identified by a dark grey line under the
linked text. Internal links allow the reader to jump to a
heading, step or page in this document. External links
open the website or document referenced.
The warnings and cautions should be read carefully
to help prevent personal injury and to assure that
proper methods are used. Improper maintenance,
service or repair can cause damage to the vehicle and
2
L579 F
Alignment Procedures
other property, personal injury, an unsafe operating
condition or void the manufacturer’s warranty.
• Compressed air or dry brushing
should never be used for cleaning
brake assemblies or work areas.
Carefully read, understand and follow all safety related
information within this publication.
• Follow applicable shop, local,
state and federal safe practices for
working with and disposal of brake
lining materials.
WARNING:DO NOT modify or rework parts.
se ONLY Hendrickson-authorized
replacement parts. Use of modified
or non-genuine replacement parts not
authorized by Hendrickson may not
meet Hendrickson’s specifications. It
can also result in failure of the part,
loss of vehicle control and possible
personal injury or property damage.
Do not modify parts without written
authorization from Hendrickson.
• Hendrickson recommends that
workers doing brake work should
take steps to minimize exposure
to airborne brake lining particles.
Proper procedures to reduce
exposure include:
–– Working in a well-ventilated
area,
–– Segregation of areas where
brake work is done,
–– Use of local filtered ventilation
systems or use of enclosed
cells with filtered vacuums.
WARNING:Always wear proper eye protection
and other required personal
protective equipment (PPE) when
performing vehicle maintenance,
repair or service. Follow federal,
state and local regulations as
appropriate.
• Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS) on this product, as
required by OSHA, are available
online from Hendrickson at
www.hendrickson-intl.com/trailerlit.
WARNING:Solvent cleaners can be flammable,
poisonous and can cause burns. To
help avoid serious personal injury,
carefully follow the manufacturer’s
product instructions and guidelines
and the following procedures:
CAUTION:A mechanic using a service
procedure or tool which has not been
recommended by Hendrickson must
first satisfy himself that neither his
safety nor the vehicle’s safety will
be jeopardized by the method or
tool selected. Individuals deviating
in any manner from the provided
instructions assume all risks of
consequential personal injury or
damage to equipment.
• Wear proper eye protection.
• Wear clothing that protects your
skin.
• Work in a well-ventilated area.
• DO NOT use gasoline or solvents
that contain gasoline. Gasoline
can explode.
NOTICE:When welding to or on the axle, take
every caution to prevent bearing
damage. When grounding welding
equipment to axle, prevent current
from passing through the wheel
bearings.
• Hot solution tanks or alkaline
solutions must be used correctly.
Follow the manufacturer’s
recommended instructions and
guidelines carefully to help
prevent personal accident or
injury.
A connection that places a wheel
bearing between the ground cable
connection and the weld area can
damage the bearing by electric
arcing.
WARNING:The following precautions and
considerations should be applied
when handling brake lining:
L579 F
3
Alignment Procedures 
CONTACTING HENDRICKSON
PHONE
Contact Hendrickson directly in the United States at
866‑RIDEAIR (743‑3247). From the menu, select:
• Technical Services/Warranty for technical
information.
• Other selections include:
–– Aftermarket Sales for replacement parts
information and ordering.
–– Original Equipment Sales for parts inquiries
and ordering for trailer manufacturers.
Contact Hendrickson Trailer Technical Services for
technical assistance as needed. To do so, several
options are available.
Prior to contacting Technical Services, it is best to
have the following information about the vehicle and
Hendrickson suspension available (all that apply):
• Suspension ID Tag information (Refer to
Hendrickson literature number L977 Trailer
Suspension and Axle ID Guide, page 2 for tag
location and details):
–– Suspension model number
–– Suspension serial number
–– Approximate number of suspension miles.
• Vehicle VIN number. Refer to trailer OEM manual for
VIN plate location.
–– Trailer Type (van, reefer, flat bed, etc.)
–– Manufacturer
–– VIN (vehicle identification number)
–– In-service date 1
• If applicable, description of the system problem,
part number and/or part description of the reported
non-functioning part.
–– Date of problem
–– Where applicable: location of problem on
suspension / trailer (e.g., road side, front axle,
curb side rear, etc.)
–– Symptoms»» Systems, components or function affected by
problem.
»» When does problem occur?
»» How often does the problem occur?
»» Etc.
• What troubleshooting and/or measurements have
been performed?
• What service data literature do you have or need?
• Digital photos of suspension and damaged areas.
• Special application approval documentation
(if applicable).
EMAIL
For Hendrickson Trailer Technical Services, use the
following e-mail address:
HTTS@Hendrickson-intl.com
RELATIVE LITERATURE
If you suspect your version of this or any other
Hendrickson manual is not “up-to-date”, the most
current version is free online at:
www.Hendrickson-intl.com/TrailerLit
Available Hendrickson documentation can be viewed
or downloaded from this site.
All Hendrickson online documentation is in PDF format
that requires PDF reader software to open. A free
application is downloadable from Adobe’s home page
(http://get.adobe.com/reader/).
Other relative literature may include:
NAME
DESCRIPTION
B31
Torque Specifications
L427
Bushing Replacement Procedure
L459
Checking Trailer Ride Height
L577
HT™ Series Suspension Installation Procedures
L583
Comprehensive Warranty Statement
L785
Pre-aligned VANTRAAX® Warranty Update
L874
Pre-aligned VANTRAAX Alignment Verification
Procedure
L926
Factory-torqued Curbside Pivot Connection
L1072
QUIK-ALIGN® Pivot Connection Fastener Information
T62001
Self‑steer Axle Installation and Maintenance
Procedures
Table 1: Relative Literature
1
If the in-service date is unknown or not available, the vehicle date of
manufacture can be substituted.
4
L579 F
Alignment Procedures
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
PREPARING TRAILER FOR SERVICE
The following tools and equipment are necessary to
complete the procedure within this publication:
• For KINGPIN TO FRONT AXLE ALIGNMENT CHECK
on page 13:
–– 50‑foot (minimum) steel tape measure with
1
/32‑inch increments .
–– Tape tensioning (spring) device required for
measurements with tape measure. Consisting
of:
»» Fish (or engineering) scale, spring-loaded
»» Clamp - grips tape measure for use with fish
scale.
»» String - used to fasten the clamp to the fish
scale.
–– Kingpin adapter or kingpin extender (pogo
stick).
–– Level - used to plumb the kingpin extender.
–– Wheel-end (or spindle) extenders, 2 minimum.
• For AXLE-AXLE ALIGNMENT CHECK on page 16:
Trammel bar (preferred) or 12‑foot (minimum)
steel tape measure with 1/32‑inch increments .
• Impact wrench with a minimum torque capability
of 600 ft. lbs. (813 N•m).
• For QUIK-ALIGN® Pivot Bolt Kits:
–– E20 TORX® socket; 1‑inch drive recommended.
–– 17/16‑inch box end wrench.
–– 1/2‑inch drive breaker bar or ratchet.
• For all HT® Series with welded collar pivot bolt kits:
–– 111/16‑inch shallow impact socket.
–– 111/16‑inch box end wrench.
• Tire changing equipment (as needed).
• Tire pressure gauge.
• Rubber mallet.
• 3/8-inch pin punch (for Hendrickson self-steer
axle).
NOTE:DO NOT service a suspension or any
components that is under warranty
without first contacting Hendrickson
Technical Services. Refer to CONTACTING
HENDRICKSON on page 4 for details.
WARNING:To prevent serious eye injury, always
wear safety glasses when performing
trailer maintenance and service.
Figure 1: Trailer preparation
Before beginning any work on a trailer suspension
system, the following steps help ensure conditions
are safe. Refer to GENERAL SERVICE NOTES on
page 2.
1. Park the trailer on a level, debris-free surface.
2. Set the trailer parking brakes.
3. To prevent the trailer from moving, chock the
wheels of an axle not being raised.
4. Exhaust the air from the trailer suspension.
If required during service:
5. Release the trailer parking brakes.
6. Using a jack, raise trailer and/or axle until wheels
clear the work surface.
7. Support the raised trailer with safety stands.
WARNING:Do not work under a trailer supported
only by jacks. Jacks can slip or fall
over, resulting in serious personal
injury. Always use safety stands to
support a raised trailer.
L579 F
5
Alignment Procedures 
TORX® SOCKETS
Sleeve
Socket
Hendrickson offers four TORX sockets (Table 2) that
may be used on the shear-type bolt during alignment.
E20 and E22 TORX sockets are also available from
other vendors.
TORX®
DRIVE
PIVOT
SOCKET SIZE SIZE CONNECTION
E20
(part #
A-24303)
E20
(part #
A-24536)
E20 with
sleeve
(part #
A-25119)
COMMENTS
/4"
QUIK-ALIGN®
For occasional use
(not recommended
for high-volume
trailer production
environments)
1"
QUIK-ALIGN
For medium-duty
use (dealers, repair
facilities, etc.)
QUIK-ALIGN
For high-volume
trailer production
environments or
manufacturing
facilities. The sleeve
provides greater
operator control.
3
1"
Figure 3: 1‑inch drive E20 TORX socket with sleeve (A-25119)
For QUIK-ALIGN style pivot connections in high volume
trailer production and service facilities, Hendrickson
recommends the one‑inch drive E20 TORX socket
(Table 2), with sleeve (Figure 3). The sleeve helps
support the tool by riding over the entire head of the
shear bolt. It also provides greater operator control
at the moment of shear by preventing the heavy tool
from veering. The operator can rest the tool on the bolt
during the entire operation resulting in greater control
of socket-to-bolt engagement, reduced fatigue and
consistently torqued pivot connections.
2.156
Table 2: Hendrickson E20 TORX socket summary
1.425
NOTICE:Hendrickson does not recommend
the ¾‑inch drive socket for use
in high volume trailer production
environments. The ¾‑inch drive
socket can back away from full TORX
head engagement during the shearing
process and strip the TORX-head
splines. When damage occurs to the
TORX-head splines, the proper torque
and clamp load may not be achieved.
+.010
0.645 -.005
2.500
+.010
1.842 -.005
All dimensions
are in inches
Socket OD 0.004
¼-20
Drill & tap
(one side only)
.125 x 45°
Chamfer
x2
Figure 4: Sleeve dimensions
FABRICATION NOTES:
Fully engaged
Partially engaged
TORX socket
TORX socket
Figure 2: Socket engagement
1. Sleeve undersized by .004; shrink fit socket into sleeve OD.
2. Drill and tap assembly for ¼-20 × .25 (oval point) standard
hex socket set screw.
3. Material: Ø2.500 6150 H.R.S.
4. Heat treatment (sleeve):
To avoid damaging the shear bolt’s TORX-head
(regardless of the drive socket being used), the drive
socket must fully engage the TORX-head (Figure 2).
a. Oil drenched: 1550º F (538º C)
b. Tempered: 1000º F (843º C)
If you already own the one‑inch drive E20 TORX
socket without the sleeve (Table 2) and wish to add
a sleeve to it, dimensions are included in Figure 4. A
local fabricating shop can make and assemble the
sleeve using this information.
6
L579 F
Alignment Procedures
PIVOT CONNECTION - FRAME
BRACKET
same. However, applicable pivot connection hardware
kits must be used. Refer to applicable parts catalogs
listed at www.hendrickson-intl.com.
Hendrickson suspensions are equipped with either
QUIK-ALIGN® or welded-collar style pivot connections.
The following information is for suspensions with a
frame bracket.
For Y-beam suspensions, refer to PIVOT CONNECTION
- Y-BEAM on page 8.
PIVOT CONNECTION - WELDED COLLAR
CAUTION:DO NOT apply anti-seize compound
or additional lubricant to pivot
connection hardware. A dry lubricant
coating has been applied to the
threads of the pivot connection bolt
and nut. Do not allow undercoating,
paint, surface coatings, or any
other commonly used compounds
to contact the threads of the
pivot connection fasteners. These
compounds can act like a lubricant,
reducing the friction between the
threads of the nut and bolt. This
can lead to overtightened fasteners,
unpredictable pivot connection clamp
loads and unreliable axle alignments.
Threads should be clean, dry and
free of contamination, as supplied by
Hendrickson.
Huck
fastener
Back view
Heavy hex
cap screw
and nut
Figure 6: Welded Collar pivot connection
CAUTION:DO NOT apply undercoating, paint
or other surface coating to the
suspension and frame brackets until
after completing the alignment. These
products will act as a lubricant to
contaminate and compromise the
fastener clamp load, resulting in a
loose connection or worse.
The welded collar style pivot connection is clamped
together by either a Huck® Fastener or a 11/8‑inch
heavy hex cap screw and nut (Figure 6). After the
alignment is completed, the entire circumference of
both inboard and outboard collars is welded to the
frame bracket. The nut is welded to the 11/8‑inch
heavy hex cap screw (if used instead of the Huck
fastener).
If coating prior to assembly, areas where alignment
collars and bushing inner metal contact the frame
bracket (suspension beam for Y-beams) must be
masked as shown in Figure 5.
To realign this style of pivot connection, the collar
welds must be removed so the pivot joint can be
repositioned.
Inside mask for
bushing inner
metal contact
Outer mask
for collars
Figure 5: Paint mask areas (example for QUIK-ALIGN®)
With frame brackets or Y-beams, the procedures for
checking and adjusting trailer axle alignment is the
L579 F
Side view
7
Alignment Procedures 
PIVOT CONNECTION - Y-BEAM
PIVOT CONNECTION - QUIK-ALIGN® HT™ Series Y-beam suspensions differ from other
suspension beams because they do not use a frame
bracket. The fork or “Y” of the beam connects directly
to the trailer frame using the bushing tube sleeve
(Figure 9 and Figure 10, item 1).
Shear-type bolt
Hardened flat washer
Flanged concentric collar
Alignment
guides
Square
alignment
hole
Frame bracket
2
XXXXXX
XXX
XX
XX
XX
XX
X
X
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXX
X
XXX
Flanged eccentric collar
Hardened flat washer
TORQ-RITE® Nut
XX
3
Figure 7: Frame bracket QUIK-ALIGN pivot connection
0° to +45°
(forward
movement)
Trailer
frame
rail
1
7
Square alignment hole
Alignment Guide
6
5
0° to +45°
(rearward
movement)
Figure 9: QUIK-ALIGN® pivot connection hardware
Forward
movement
Rearward
movement
Trailer
frame
rail
Figure 8: Rotating QUIK-ALIGN flanged eccentric collar
1
2
The QUIK-ALIGN style pivot connection uses two
flanged collars inserted into slots on each side of the
frame bracket (Figure 7). The eccentric collar on the
outboard side of the frame bracket is used to adjust
the position of the axle during an alignment. The
alignment guides on the side of the frame bracket
limit the eccentric collar to rotational movement in
the frame bracket slot. Rotating the eccentric collar
clockwise causes the axle to move forward. Rotating
the eccentric collar counterclockwise causes the axle
to move rearward (Figure 8). The maximum range
of adjustment is ±45 degrees from the 12 o’clock
position.
3
8
4
Along with hardened flat washers, a shear-type bolt
and a TORQ-RITE® Nut are also part of the QUIK-ALIGN
style pivot connection. Use of this shear-type bolt and
TORQ-RITE nut with an E20 TORX® socket ensures
proper clamping force without the use of a torque
wrench.
7
Figure 10: Welded collar pivot connection hardware
8
L579 F
Alignment Procedures
ITEM
DESCRIPTION
WELDED
QUIKALIGN
1
Bushing tube sleeve
4
4
2
Bushing assembly
4
4
3
Bushing tube spacers (2 ea)
4
4
4
Welded alignment collars (2 ea)
4
5
Eccentric alignment collar
4
6
Concentric alignment collar
4
7
Pivot bolt and nut
4
8
Delrin liner
4
®
ALIGNMENT BACKGROUND
Properly aligned trailer axles optimize fuel economy,
driveability and help prevent excessive tire wear.
A perfect alignment scenario has all trailer wheels
parallel to one another and perpendicular to the
centerline of the trailer. However due to uncontrollable
factors, this perfect scenario is often an unreasonable
expectation. A more likely alignment scenario has the
trailer wheels parallel within a very small tolerance
range to one another and perpendicular within a very
small tolerance range to the centerline of the trailer.
4
Table 3: Pivot connection hardware list
Thrust angle
With frame brackets or Y-beams, the procedures for
checking and adjusting trailer axle alignment is the
same. However, applicable pivot connection hardware
kits must be used. Refer to applicable parts catalogs
listed at www.hendrickson-intl.com.
Scrub angle
Figure 11: Tandem trailer axle-axle angles
Figure 12: Examples of dog tracking
There are two important trailer axle angles that must
be kept within recommended tolerance ranges: thrust
angle and scrub angle (Figure 11). These angles,
when out of tolerance, can lead to increased rolling
resistance, excessive tire wear and can contribute
to trailer “dog tracking”. Dog tracking (Figure 12)
is a condition where the trailer does not follow or
track directly behind the truck as the vehicle is being
operated in a straight line and is influenced by
body rail alignment, kingpin location, axle side-toside location, etc. The procedures presented in this
publication detail how to check and, if necessary,
L579 F
9
Alignment Procedures 
bring these angles within the recommended tolerance
range.
measurements is then compared to the measurement
target value to determine the axle thrust angle. If the
difference between the “A” and “B” measurements is
larger than the target value, the axle must be adjusted
to achieve an acceptable axle thrust angle. If the
difference between the “A” and “B” measurements
is smaller than or equal to the target value, axle
thrust angle is within the tolerance range and no
adjustment is necessary. The remaining axles are then
measured with respect to the front axle and adjusted, if
necessary, to an acceptable scrub angle.
C
Axle
Front axle
A
B
Even though distances are being measured using
measurement points on the ends of the axle, it is
the axle thrust angle that is important. As shown in
Figure 13, the acceptable axle thrust angle remains
constant over the length of the axle. However, the
measurement target value that coincides with the
acceptable axle thrust angle varies over the length of
the axle. Because of a simple geometrical relationship,
the measurement target value gets larger as you move
farther away from the center of the axle.
D
Figure 13: Measurements to check axle-axle alignment
The front (non-steer) axle is used as a starting point
to measure thrust angle. First, the measurement
target value (or tolerance range) is determined. Then,
the distance from the kingpin (used as the trailer
centerline) to matching points on each end of the
front (non-steer) axle is measured (distances “A” and
“B” in Figure 13). The difference between these two
Axle track
±0.218"
(7/32")
(5.5 mm)
Nominal centerto-center distance
of dual tires,
varies with wheel
equipment.
±0.188"
(3/16")
(4.8 mm)
18"
(457 mm)
wheel-end
extender
±0.094" (3/32")
(2.4 mm)
Figure 14: Thrust angle geometry example
EXAMPLE A: Kingpin-front axle measurement with wheel-end extenders:
Measuring from the kingpin to a point 18 inches
beyond the end of the spindle might produce
a measurement target value of ±0.218 (7/32)
inches (Figure 14). But a measurement from the
kingpin to the brake drum might only produce
a measurement target value of ±0.094 (3/32)
inches. Both of these measurements are within the
acceptable axle thrust angle, but one is more than
two times larger than the other. This is because
one measurement is taken at a point much farther
away from the center of the axle than the other
measurement.
The typical trailer industry alignment specification
for thrust angle is ±0.1 degrees, which equals
±1/8‑inch when measured from the kingpin to the
axle track of a 77.5‑inch track axle (distances “A”
and “B” in Figure 13). Hendrickson suspensions
are no different. However, there are two additional
clarifications to this specification that must be
10
L579 F
Alignment Procedures
EXAMPLE B: Measurement error:
addressed. The first one deals with axle track
(Figure 13). Using the value for axle track simplifies
the axle thrust angle calculation, but it is impractical
to use axle track for a measurement. Not only does
the outer tire/wheel assembly have to come off to even
attempt the measurement, but where specifically on
the spindle do you measure to? What point on the
spindle defines axle track? A more practical approach
is to use wheel-end extenders to provide a more
accurate and consistent measurement point (more
wheel-end extender information is presented later in
this document).
Say you have a measurement with a tolerance
of ±0.125 (1/8) inches. Say also that the result
of a gauge repeatability and reproducibility study
revealed a precision to tolerance ratio of 75
percent. This means that ±0.0938 (3/32) inches
(or 75 percent) of the ±1/8‑inch tolerance could be
attributed to measurement error.
As summarized by Table 4, the measurement error
introduced by current alignment measurement
methods (except extensometer devices) is greater than
the ±0.1 degree industry specification.
The second clarification deals with measurement
limitation. The ±0.1 degrees of thrust angle is difficult
to achieve because of measurement limitations. No
currently existing alignment measurement method can
consistently provide an alignment within this ±0.1
degree tolerance. The reason for this is measurement
error.
MEASUREMENT METHOD
PRECISION/
TOLERANCE
RATIO
(±0.1°)
PRECISION/
TOLERANCE
RATIO
(±0.2°)
Tape measure to rim
330%
165%
Laser devices 1
309%
155%
/16" graduated tape measure
to wheel-end extenders
207%
104%
/32" graduated tape measure
to wheel-end extenders
148%
74%
Extensometer
64%
32%
1
1
1
With the two previously described clarifications in
mind, Hendrickson continues to recommend using the
±0.1 degree thrust angle alignment specification for
initial alignments, realizing that, due to measurement
error, the actual thrust angle may be in the ±0.2
degree range. The ±0.2 degree range complies with
most tire manufacturers’ recommendations for an
allowable trailer axle thrust angle. Hendrickson also
recommends using a steel tape measure with 1/32‑inch
graduations, a tape tensioning device and wheel-end
extenders to allow for greater measurement accuracy.
Subsequent alignment verification measurements
should use the ±0.2 degree thrust angle range
recommended by most tire manufacturers.
Per SAE technical paper 933046
Table 4: Measurement method and associated accuracy
All measurement devices and procedures (Table 4)
have variations that affect their accuracy. A study
typically performed to identify measurement device
or procedure accuracy is a gauge repeatability
and reproducibility study. It evaluates how well the
measurement device or procedure can perform with
respect to specifications. The result of such a study
is a factor called “precision to tolerance ratio”. This
ratio expresses the percent of the tolerance used up by
measurement error.
L579 F
11
Alignment Procedures 
ALIGNMENT PREPARATIONS
PROPERLY POSITION THE TRAILER
Trailer positioning is important during alignment.
The trailer suspension must be in a “relaxed”
state without any pre-load applied to the
TRI‑FUNCTIONAL® Bushings.
A primary purpose for following the procedures in this
document is to ensure all axles are parallel to one
another and perpendicular to the trailer frame. Pivot
connection positioning is not the only factor that can
influence the parallelism between axles. A thorough
inspection of the trailer should be performed prior to
alignment to determine tire condition and if damage
or worn components exist (see Hendrickson literature
number L578 Preventive Maintenance Guide). The
trailer should be set as close as possible to normal
driving conditions.
IMPORTANT: A pre-loaded bushing will complicate
the axle alignment process by
providing inaccurate measurement
data. Also, a seemingly aligned
axle that contains an unknowingly
compressed bushing may cause
tracking problems and/or premature
tire wear. To avoid these conditions,
perform the proper trailer positioning
procedure as follows.
SELECT THE ALIGNMENT AREA
The alignment should be performed on a flat, level,
debris-free surface.
Read entire procedure before
performing.
PERFORM TIRE INSPECTION
The tires in each dual wheel set must be matched
to within ¼‑inch in diameter and ¾‑inch in
circumference.
1. Position trailer for alignment.
2. With trailer still coupled to the tractor, adjust
trailer landing legs so there is adequate ground
clearance.
The tires must also be at the manufacturer’s
recommended load bearing pressure when checking
or performing an axle alignment. Inflate or deflate the
tires to match this recommended pressure.
3. Sliders only:
A. Move slider to rear-most position of the trailer.
B. Make sure the slider locking pins are fully
extended through the body rail holes.
Also make sure that the same tires and rims are
mounted on each side of the trailer.
4. Position the trailer so it is as close as possible
to its forward operational state by doing the
appropriate step:
SET SUSPENSION RIDE HEIGHT
Suspension mounting surface
A. If drive-through maintenance bay or on open
paved surface, pull trailer straight forward for
a minimum of ten feet.
B. If no drive-through, back trailer into a
maintenance bay as straight as possible, then
gently pull it forward ten feet or more.
Ride
Height
5. Ease the trailer to a stop using only the tractor
brakes, thus relieving bushing pre-load.
Axle Center
IMPORTANT: Keep trailer parking brakes disengaged
to allow wheel rotation while
positioning axle fore and aft.
Figure 15: Ride height defined
The suspension must be at its designed ride height
when checking or performing an axle alignment.
A suspension’s designed ride height (Figure 15) is
defined as the distance from the suspension mounting
surface (the bottom of the trailer frame or slider box)
to the center of the axle, with air applied. For complete
instructions on determining and setting ride height,
refer to Hendrickson literature number L459 Checking
Trailer Ride Height.
NOTE:For sliders, this also forces slider locking
pins to rear of the body rail holes, removing
locking pin slack and relieving bushing preload.
6. Lower trailer landing legs so they contact the
ground. Uncouple trailer from the tractor and apply
shop air to trailer emergency glad hand to release
parking brakes.
12
L579 F
Alignment Procedures
AXLE ALIGNMENT
SET DESIGNED KINGPIN HEIGHT
Set the front of the trailer to its designed kingpin
height:
If necessary, refer to ALIGNMENT BACKGROUND
on page 9 and ALIGNMENT PREPARATIONS on
page 12 before performing these axle alignment
procedures.
1. Determine what the designed kingpin height
should be. Check the trailer ID tag on the trailer
front bulkhead or contact the trailer manufacturer
for the designed kingpin height.
KINGPIN TO FRONT AXLE ALIGNMENT
CHECK
This would be the thrust angle alignment performed
on the front (non-steer) axle. If a lift axle, ensure axle
is in the down position.
Figure 17: Checking for measurement obstructions
Figure 16: Measuring actual kingpin height
1. From a position at the front of the trailer
(Figure 17), sight along a line under the trailer
from the kingpin to each end of the front axle.
2. Using a tape measure, determine the current
trailer kingpin height by measuring from the
ground to the kingpin mounting plate (Figure 16).
3. Adjust the landing legs to place the trailer at the
designed kingpin height.
4. Verify the kingpin height by measuring from the
ground to the kingpin mounting plate on both
sides of the kingpin.
Figure 18: Kingpin adapter
A. If this sightline is free from under-trailer
obstructions that would interfere with a
measurement (i.e., landing legs, trailer
frame, tool boxes, etc.), then the kingpin
adapter (Figure 18) can be used to make the
measurement in Step 5.
L579 F
13
Alignment Procedures 
NOTE:A wide range of wheel-end extenders are
available from various companies, ranging
from simple fixtures to complex devices.
Wheel-end extenders are designed to ease
alignment by eliminating the need to remove
the outer wheel when checking or aligning
axles. Once in place, wheel-end extenders
position axle reference points far enough
outside the trailer to allow the measuring tape
to clear tires when measuring “A” and “B”
dimensions from the kingpin. Some wheelend extenders require contact with the spindle
plug through the hub cap oil fill hole. Others
offer a more universal mount, fitting over the
entire hub. Select wheel-end extenders that
work best with your style of hubs.
Figure 19: Kingpin extender
B. If this sightline is obstructed, then the kingpin
extender or pogo stick (Figure 19) must
be used to lower the connection for the
measurement in Step 5.
IMPORTANT: Make sure the wheel-end extenders
are a matched pair and are properly
installed. Failure to properly install a
matched pair of wheel-end extenders
will significantly reduce the accuracy of
the alignment measurement.
NOTE:Follow manufacturer’s instructions to install
and align the kingpin extender. The extender
typically includes a leveling bubble to ensure
vertical alignment.
Measure this distance
(wheel-end
extender
length)
2. Place kingpin adapter (Figure 18) or kingpin
extender (Figure 19) onto the kingpin.
Face of
wheel
mounting
Figure 21: Measuring wheel-end extender length
4. Determine and record the front axle target value:
A. Measure the length of one wheel-end
extender. Measure from the face of the wheel
mounting to the tip of the wheel-end extender
(Figure 21).
Figure 20: Installed wheel-end extender
3. Following the manufacturer’s recommended
instructions, install wheel-end extenders on each
end of the front axle (Figure 20).
B. Read the axle target value from Table 5.
14
L579 F
Alignment Procedures
EXAMPLE C: Kingpin-front axle target value:
Suppose the measured length of your wheelend extender is 18 inches and your trailer has a
77.5‑inch axle track. First, find the 18‑inch row in
the 77.5‑inch section of the table. Then, find the
column for a 40‑foot kingpin-to-axle distance and
read down the column. The value shown where
18‑inch wheel-end extender length and 40‑foot
kingpin-to-axle meet is ±3/16‑inch (See Figure 14),
which is the front axle target value. This front axle
target value will be required for a comparison in
Step 6.
12
Wheel Extender Length
16
17
18
3/16
19
20
21
22
23
7/32
24
77.5
Track Length:
Kingpin-to-Axle 2: 48 44 40 36 32 28 24 20 16 12
12
5/32
13
14
15
3/16
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
7/32
23
24
Track Length:
83.5
Kingpin-to-Axle 2: 48 44 40 36 32 28 24 20 16 12
12
13
14
3/16
15
16
17
18
19
20
7/32
21
22
23
24
Wheel Extender Length
Wheel Extender Length
NOTE:Axle track can be read from the suspension
model identification tag, found on the inside
surface of the curbside beam (INTRAAX®
suspensions) or on the roadside slider
box side rail above the front frame bracket
(VANTRAAX® and ULTRAA-K® suspensions).
For complete details on reading the
Hendrickson suspension identification tag,
refer to Hendrickson literature number L977
Trailer Suspension System and Axle ID Guide.
2
C
The kingpin-front axle (or thrust angle) target values presented in this
table have been pre-calculated for your convenience. To see the steps
involved in this process and an example of front (non-steer) axle target
value calculation, refer to APPENDIX A: AXLE TARGET VALUE SAMPLE
CALCULATION on page 27.
Kingpin-to-axle distance values are in feet. All others are in inches.
A
B
Axle
1
Figure 22: Using tape tension device (fish scale)
Front axle
FRONT AXLE TARGET VALUES 1,2
Track Length:
71.5
Kingpin-to-Axle 2: 48 44 40 36 32 28 24 20 16
12
5/32
13
14
15
Table 5: Kingpin-front axle target values
D
Figure 23: Axle alignment measurements
L579 F
15
Alignment Procedures 
EXAMPLE D: Calculating front axle measured value:
Suppose distance “A” was measured to be 4201/8
inches and distance “B” was measured to be
42011/16 inches. Subtracting yields this difference:
42011/16" - 4201/8" = 9/16"
When compared to the target value (±3/16 inches,
read from the Table 5 in Step 4), 9/16 inches is larger.
Therefore the axle must be adjusted to bring the “A”
and “B” difference within the target value.
7. Perform AXLE-AXLE ALIGNMENT CHECK for all
other axles.
AXLE-AXLE ALIGNMENT CHECK
Figure 24: Measuring the “A” and “B” distances
5. Hook a steel measuring tape (50‑foot minimum)
to the kingpin adapter (or kingpin extender).
Holding the measuring tape with the tape
tensioning device (Figure 22), measure the
distances “A” and “B” from the kingpin to the
wheel-end extender pointer on each end of the
front axle (Figure 23 and Figure 24).
To be parallel to within the acceptable scrub angle
range (Figure 23, C and D), axles must be aligned
to the front non-steer axle checked in the previous
procedure.
71.5"
77.5"
12"
±3/32"
±3/32"
13"
±3/32"
±3/32"
14"
±3/32"
±3/32"
15"
±3/32"
±3/32"
16"
±3/32"
±3/32"
17"
±3/32"
±3/32"
18"
±3/32"
±3/32"
19"
±3/32"
±3/32"
20"
±3/32"
±3/32"
21"
±3/32"
±3/32"
22"
±3/32"
±3/32"
23"
±3/32"
±1/8"
24"
±3/32"
±1/8"
IMPORTANT: The same pulling force applied to
the measuring tape when measuring
distance “A” must also be applied when
measuring distance “B”. When making
the measurements, closely monitor
the tensioning device (spring) scale to
ensure the same pulling force is used
in both measurements.
6. Subtract the smaller of the “A” and “B”
measurements from the larger of the two, then
compare this difference with the target value
obtained in Step 4.
A. If the difference between the “A” and “B”
measurements is larger than the target value,
go to AXLE ALIGNMENT ADJUSTMENT on
page 18 to correct the alignment.
1
IMPORTANT: If adjustment is required for the front
non-steer axle, all other axles will likely
require adjustment.
AXLE TRACK
WHEEL-END
EXTENDER LENGTH
The scrub angle target values presented in this table have been
pre-calculated for your convenience. To see the steps involved in
this process and an example of axle target value calculation, refer
to APPENDIX A: AXLE TARGET VALUE SAMPLE CALCULATION on
page 27
Table 6: Scrub angle target values if using wheel-end extenders
B. If the difference between the “A” and “B”
measurements is smaller than or equal
to the target value, the axle is within
specification and no alignment is necessary.
16
L579 F
Alignment Procedures
8. Measure distance between axle centers
(Figure 23, C and D) for selected axle:
IMPORTANT: When using a tape measure, the
tensioning (spring) device must also
be used. The same pulling force
applied to the tape measure when
measuring distance “C” must also
be applied when measuring distance
“D”. When making the measurements,
closely monitor the tensioning device
scale to ensure the same pulling force
is used in both measurements.
A. Method 1 - Using trammel bar (preferred):
i. Hold trammel bar so points are positioned
from axle center to axle center.
ii. Record measured value for C.
iii. Repeat for same axles on opposite end to
measure and record D.
9. Subtract the smaller of “C” and “D” (Figure 23)
from the larger of the two measurements.
NOTE:The target value when using a trammel bar is
±3/32‑inch for 71.5 or 77.5‑inch axle track.
B. Method 2 - Using tape measure:
10.Record scrub angle value for axle being
measured.
i. Following the manufacturer’s
recommended instructions, install
wheel-end extenders on each wheel end
(Figure 23).
11.Compare the difference with the axle target value
obtained in Step 8, method A or B.
A. If the difference between the “C” and “D”
measurements is larger than the target
value, the axle must be adjusted to bring this
difference within the target value. Go to AXLE
ALIGNMENT ADJUSTMENT on page 18 to
adjust pivot connection for scrub angle.
NOTE:If four wheel-end extenders are available
(Figure 23), install a second pair on each
axle to be measured for C and D, reference
to front axle. Otherwise wheel-end extenders
need to be removed and reinstalled to wheel
ends on one side, then the other, to perform
the measurements.
B. If the difference between the “C” and “D”
measurements is smaller than or equal
to the target value, the axle is within
specification and no adjustments are required.
ii. Measure wheel-end extender length from
the face of the wheel mounting to the tip
of the wheel-end extender (Figure 20 on
page 14).
On trailers equipped with more than two
axles, repeat this procedure to measure and, if
necessary, adjust all other axles to the front axle
(Figure 23, C and D) to prevent inaccuracies.
iii. Read the axle target value from Table 62.
iv. Measure the distances for “C” and “D”
from the front non-steer axle center to the
axle center (Figure 23 on page 15).
2
IMPORTANT: For self‑steer axle-axle alignment, first
refer to SELF‑STEER AXLE ALIGNMENT
on page 21.
Example E - Axle-axle target when using wheel-end extenders:
Suppose the measured length of your wheel-end extender is 18
inches and your trailer has a 77.5‑inch axle track.
A. Find the 18‑inch row in Table 6.
B. Find the column for 77.5‑inch axle track and read down the
column.
The value shown where 18‑inch wheel-end extender length and
77.5‑inch axle track meet is ±3/32‑inch, which is the axle target
value.
L579 F
17
Alignment Procedures 
AXLE ALIGNMENT ADJUSTMENT
CAUTION: The pivot bolt and nut are not
reusable. A new shear-type bolt
and hex nut must be installed and
sheared to achieve the proper pivot
connection torque and clamp force.
See Figure 33 on page 24.
CAUTION: DO NOT apply undercoating, paint
or other surface coating to the
suspension and frame brackets until
after completing the alignment. Mask
as shown in Figure 5 on page 7.
2. Install a new shear-type bolt, TORQ-RITE® Nut
and hardened flat washers into the axle pivot
connection to be adjusted, but do not fully tighten
at this time. The pivot connection fasteners
should be tight enough to hold the flanged
eccentric collar in place between the alignment
guides and flat against the frame bracket, but
loose enough to permit the hardened flat washers
to rotate freely. See Figure 33 on page 24.
QUIK-ALIGN® AXLE ADJUSTMENT
If necessary, refer to PIVOT CONNECTION - QUIKALIGN® on page 8.
In June 2006, Hendrickson began factory-torquing
curbside QUIK-ALIGN pivot connections on all
VANTRAAX® slider suspension systems. “Factorytorquing” simply means the curbside pivot connection
is aligned in the center of its adjustment range
(Figure 8 on page 8) and tightened to the proper
torque before the suspension leaves the Hendrickson
facility. Therefore the curbside pivot connection on
all VANTRAAX slider axles should not require any
attention.
CAUTION:DO NOT APPLY anti-seize compound
or additional lubricant to pivot
connection hardware. A dry lubricant
coating has been applied to the
threads of the pivot connection bolt
and nut. Do not allow undercoating,
paint, surface coatings, or any
other commonly used compounds
to contact the threads of the
pivot connection fasteners. These
compounds can act like a lubricant,
reducing the friction between the
threads of the nut and bolt. This
can lead to overtightened fasteners,
unpredictable pivot connection clamp
loads and unreliable axle alignments.
Threads should be clean, dry and
free of contamination, as supplied by
Hendrickson.
Alignment will be performed using the roadside
pivot connection only. For more information, refer to
Hendrickson literature number L926 Factory-torqued
Curbside Pivot Connection.
If your suspension is a VANTRAAX factory-torqued
model, perform the alignment using the roadside pivot
connections in the following procedures. If needed,
curbside pivot connection can be adjusted.
For all other models, neither roadside or curbside pivot
connections are pre-torqued. Perform the alignment
using both pivot connections in the following
procedures.
IMPORTANT: The eccentric and concentric collar
must remain flat against the frame
bracket throughout the alignment
procedure (Figure 33‑A, page 24).
If the pivot connection fasteners are too
loose, the eccentric collar may raise up
on the alignment guide, resulting in an
improper alignment (Figure 33‑C). If
this condition occurs during alignment,
refer to the raised eccentric collar
information in PIVOT CONNECTION
HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTING on
page 24.
REMOVE/REPLACE PIVOT BOLT
If an axle with QUIK-ALIGN pivot connections is
found to be out of alignment (KINGPIN TO FRONT
AXLE ALIGNMENT CHECK on page 13 or AXLEAXLE ALIGNMENT CHECK on page 16) it must be
adjusted as follows:
1. Remove and discard the existing shear-type
bolt, TORQ-RITE® Nut and hardened flat washers
from the pivot connection. If necessary, clean
the surface rust from the alignment collars and
frame bracket surface and inspect for excess wear.
Replace if worn.
18
L579 F
Alignment Procedures
IMPORTANT: The tapping allows the concentric and
eccentric collars to move and adjust
in unison. If the collars do not move
and adjust in unison, the concentric
collar may wedge against the frame
bracket (Figure 33‑B on page 24),
causing an inaccurate alignment and
an improper pivot connection that could
potentially loosen. If this condition
occurs during the alignment procedure,
refer to the “wedged collar” information
in PIVOT CONNECTION HARDWARE
TROUBLESHOOTING on page 24.
12 o’clock
position
Adjustment range
(±45°)
Flanged
eccentric collar
Square
alignment
hole
NOTE:Adjust the axle forward by rotating the collar
clockwise or adjust the axle rearward by
rotating the collar counterclockwise.
Figure 25: Eccentric collar orientation details
3. Inspect the orientation of the square alignment
hole in the flanged eccentric collar (Figure 25).
The square alignment hole must be at the 12
o’clock position, which is the middle of the
alignment adjustment range.
IMPORTANT: There is no change in axle adjustment
when the flanged eccentric collar is
rotated beyond 45 degrees from the 12
o’clock position in either the fore or aft
direction.
If the square alignment hole is not at the 12
o’clock position, insert a 1/2‑inch breaker bar into
the square alignment hole in the flanged eccentric
collar and rotate the collar until the square hole is
at the 12 o’clock position.
TIGHTENING PIVOT CONNECTION
If necessary, refer to TORX® SOCKETS on page 6.
6. Visually inspect the eccentric and concentric
collars on the pivot connection to ensure they are
in place between the alignment guides and flat
against the frame bracket.
4. Recheck applicable KINGPIN TO FRONT AXLE
ALIGNMENT CHECK, STEP 5 ON PAGE 16,
or AXLE-AXLE ALIGNMENT CHECK, step 8 on
page 17, to each wheel-end extender pointer.
If a collar is wedged or raised, tap on the
concentric collar (on the inboard side of the frame
bracket) with a rubber mallet until it lays flat.
A. If the axle is within target values, advance to
TIGHTENING PIVOT CONNECTION.
B. If adjustment is still required, insert a 1/2‑inch
breaker bar (Figure 8 on page 8) into the
square alignment hole in one of the flanged
eccentric collars and continue to next step.
7. Hand tighten pivot connection fasteners until
hardened flat washers do not rotate freely.
8. Repeat Step 4 measurements.
A. If the measurement is not within target value,
return to Step 5.
5. While rotating the flanged eccentric collar (on the
outboard side of the frame bracket), tap on the
flanged concentric collar (on the inboard side of
the frame bracket) with a rubber mallet.
L579 F
B. If the measurement is within the target value,
proceed to next step.
19
Alignment Procedures 
WELDED COLLAR AXLE ADJUSTMENT
9. Using an E20 TORX® socket, tighten the sheartype bolt on the front axle pivot connection until
the TORX head shears off. This ensures the proper
torque of 550±45 ft. lbs. (750±50 N•m).
If an axle with welded collar pivot connection is found
to be out of the acceptable alignment specification, it
must be realigned as follows:
1. Select one side of the axle and carefully grind or
cut the welds securing the inboard and outboard
alignment collars to the frame bracket.
CAUTION:An improperly torqued pivot
connection can result in injury and/or
property damage.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT remove the 11/8‑inch
heavy hex cap screw and nut or
Huck® Fastener. Axle alignment
with the welded collar style pivot
connection does not require pivot joint
disassembly.
Anyone who assembles or
reassembles pivot connections
(OEMs, dealers, repair facilities, etc.)
is responsible for proper installation
of the shear-type bolt.
Failure to reach required torque can
result in an insufficient clamp load
and unreliable axle alignment.
IMPORTANT: HT™ Series model HT250U Y-beam
underslung suspension alignment slots
are on the beam assembly. The inboard
and outboard alignment collars are
welded to the beam assembly itself.
Do not attempt to reuse a shear-type
bolt.
2. Recheck applicable KINGPIN TO FRONT AXLE
ALIGNMENT CHECK, step 5 on page 16,
or AXLE-AXLE ALIGNMENT CHECK, step 8 on
page 17, to each wheel-end extender pointer.
Always wear eye protection when
operating pneumatic tooling.
Make sure socket is securely fastened
to pneumatic tooling.
A. If the axle is within target values, skip the next
step.
B. If adjustment still required, continue to next
step.
Alignment slot
Alignment
collar
Alignment
collars
Move axle until alignment collars
are centered in alignment slot
Section view
Figure 26: Axle positioning on the welded-collar type frame bracket when major adjustment (both axle ends) is necessary
20
L579 F
Alignment Procedures
Denotes weld placement
Weld around entire
circumference of both inboard
and outboard collars with
1/4‑inch fillet weld
Weld four collars per suspension
Figure 27: Welding locations on welded collars
3. Move the loose axle end fore or aft until the
measurement is within the target value.
IMPORTANT: A self‑steer axle must not be used as
the primary frontmost axle for axleaxle alignment in these procedures
(Figure 28).
If the alignment collars can no longer be moved
within the alignment slots in the frame bracket and
the axle is still not within the target value,
Before getting started, ensure:
A. The welds on the inboard and outboard
alignment collars on the other side of the axle
must also be carefully ground or cut loose.
A. Tires are the same size, air pressure and tread
pattern.
B. Hubs, drums and brakes are identical.
B. With both axle ends loose, move the axle until
the alignment collars are centered in the frame
bracket alignment slots (Figure 26).
C. All suspension bushings and components
are Hendrickson Genuine Parts, correctly
assembled, adjusted, in good condition and
functioning properly.
C. The axle can now be repositioned on both
sides. Repeat Step 2 and Step 3 until the
alignment is within the target value.
SELF‑STEER ALIGNMENT SUMMARY
NOTE:This procedure is intended to be a
continuation of the AXLE-AXLE ALIGNMENT
CHECK on page 16, but for self‑steer axles.
4. Remove all equipment used to reposition the axle.
5. Tack weld the alignment collars in place.
6. Verify correct alignment (repeat Step 2).
A
8. Verify the weld goes around the entire
circumference of all four collars.
B
Front
non-steer axle
7. Weld around the inboard and outboard collars
on each end of the axle with a 1/4‑inch fillet weld
(Figure 27).
Steer axle
C
SELF‑STEER AXLE ALIGNMENT
Alingment should be performed only after steps are
taken to ensure the self‑steer spindles and wheels are
properly aligned with axle center and toe is correct. If
so, the same procedures for fixed axles, included in
this document, can be used to align a self‑steer axle.
L579 F
D
Figure 28: Self‑steer axle alignment measurements
21
Alignment Procedures 
1. If not already done so, align front (non-steer) axle
thrust angle (Figure 28, A=B) according to AXLE
ALIGNMENT ADJUSTMENT on page 18.
2. Perform LOCKING THE SELF‑STEER AXLE.
3. Perform CHECKING TOE on page 23.
/8" pin punch
3
4. Follow AXLE-AXLE ALIGNMENT CHECK on
page 16 to measure and ensure Figure 28,
C=D to within 1/8 inch (3.17 mm).
Manual
centering
lock hole
5. If adjustment to alignment is required, follow
QUIK-ALIGN® AXLE ADJUSTMENT on page 18.
6. Restore lock-straight mechanism to normal
operation.
Tie rod centering assembly
Figure 30: Locking wheels to straight position
LOCKING THE SELF‑STEER AXLE
2. Manually steer wheels in both directions to
ensure no contact with trailer.
3. Center wheels and insert a 3/8‑inch pin punch
(or equivalent) into manual centering lock holes,
as shown in Figure 30.
Lock‑straight
actuator
Lever arm
4 contact points
(2 each side)
IMPORTANT: Using the manual centering lock hole,
it is not necessary to air up the lockstraight actuator or chamber.
Zerk fitting
x2
Adjuster
jam nut
x2
Axle
A. Damage to lock-straight mechanism or other
suspension components.
Chamber centering
lock hole
Locking
clamp
(x4)
Tie rod
4. Inspect the following:
Lock‑straight chamber
B. Component wear at the four lever arm contact
points (Figure 29) and pivot points.
Tie rod
washer
C. Measure to ensure Figure 31, R1=R2±0.09
inch (2.3 mm).
Figure 29: Self‑steer axle lock-straight mechanism
(bottom view)
D. Lateral or fore-aft movement in kingpin.
During alignment or adjustment of the self‑steer axle,
the lock‑straight assembly (Figure 29) is used to lock
the tie rod in the center position while the wheels are
checked and/or adjusted to point straight forward on
the trailer, with toe.
E. Lubricate as needed per decal T60001.
If issues with any of the above exist, refer to the
troubleshooting section of T62001 Self‑steer Axle
Installation and Maintenance. Corrections must be
made before continuing to axle alignment.
1. Lift self‑steer axle until tires are off the ground.
For recommended suspension inspection and
lubrication, refer to L578 Preventive Maintenance
Guide.
5. Lower suspension back on the ground and apply
normal equalized load on the axle.
22
L579 F
Alignment Procedures
Center locking plate
clamp bolts (x4)
CL
Tie rod
end clamp
Tie rod lock plate
Tie rod
end clamp
R1
R2
Figure 31: Tie rod end clamp orientation
CHECKING TOE
7. While rotating wheel, scribe a narrow line on the
tire tread all the way around the tire (Figure 32).
This will aid in the measurement of “X” and “Y”.
IMPORTANT: An incorrect toe can affect axle-axle
alignment. It must be checked and
adjusted, if necessary.
8. Lower suspension back on the ground and apply
normal equalized load on the axle.
NOTE: Wheels must remain in center position
for CHECKING TOE alignment and
PIVOT CONNECTION HARDWARE
TROUBLESHOOTING.
IMPORTANT: To ensure consistent measurements, a
tape measure can be used to measure
up from the ground to the same height
at all measurement locations. This
measurement is always taken with the
suspension at ride height.
Toe values vary with load, as indicated by Table 7:
TOE-IN
LOAD
Inch
9. Ensure the axle is at the designed ride height, refer
to Hendrickson literature number L459 Checking
Trailer Ride Height.
mm
+0.0625
Maximum 0.0625
–0.0
+1.588
1.588
-0.0
+15.88
15.88
-0.0
10.Measure and record measurements “X” and “Y”.
+0.625
0.625
-0.0
Toe-in = “X” smaller than “Y”
Toe-out = “X” larger than “Y” (not allowed)
None
A. If toe-in is within tolerance (Table 7), no
adjustments are required. End procedure.
B. If toe-in is not within tolerance (Table 7),
refer to T62001 Self‑steer Axle Installation and
Maintenance for adjustment procedures.
Table 7: Recommended Toe
X
11.Continue with AXLE-AXLE ALIGNMENT CHECK on
page 16 or restore lock-straight mechanism to
normal operation; whichever is appropriate.
Locking clamps
Y
Figure 32: Toe-in Measurements
6. If not done so, perform LOCKING THE SELF‑STEER
AXLE on page 22. Wheels should be off the
ground.
L579 F
23
Alignment Procedures 
PIVOT CONNECTION HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTING
Alignment guide
Frame bracket
Eccentric collar
Hardened flat washer
TORQ-RITE® Nut
Alignment guide
Shear-type bolt (shown unsheared,
before final pivot connection tightening
A. Properly positioned eccentric collar
Concentric collar
B. “Wedged” pivot connection hardware
Loose eccentric collar
raised and resting on
alignment guide
C. “Raised” eccentric collar
Figure 33: QUIK-ALIGN® Pivot connection hardware positioning
24
L579 F
Alignment Procedures
QUIK-ALIGN®
RAISED ECCENTRIC COLLAR
WEDGED PIVOT-CONNECTION HARDWARE
(NOT FLAT AGAINST FRAME BRACKET)
Appearance
The eccentric collar is not flat against the frame
bracket; it is resting on an alignment guide. However,
the shear-type bolt is properly positioned and the
concentric collar is flat against the frame bracket
(Figure 33‑C, page 24).
Appearance
The pivot-connection hardware (collars, washers, etc.)
is not flat against the frame bracket. The pivot bolt and
collars are “cockeyed” and not in their proper positions
(Figure 33‑B, page 24).
Causes
While being adjusted, the inboard collar did not move
in unison with the outboard collar.
Causes
When installing the TORQ-RITE® Nut on the shear-type
bolt, the nut was not tightened sufficiently. Initially,
the pivot connection fasteners must be tight enough
to hold the eccentric collar in place between the
alignment guides and flat against the frame bracket,
but loose enough to permit the hardened flat washers
to rotate freely. The loose nut allowed the eccentric
collar to move freely and work its way onto an
alignment guide.
Results
An inaccurate alignment and an improper pivot
connection that could potentially loosen.
Solutions
Tap on the inboard collar with a rubber mallet while
rotating the outboard collar.
Results
Initially, the alignment appears to be accurate.
However, when the eccentric collar eventually slips off
the alignment guide, the pivot connection will become
loose and alignment accuracy will be lost.
Visually inspect the pivot connection after alignment. If
the collars are “wedged” against the frame bracket and
the pivot connection shear fastener has been sheared,
remove and discard the pivot connection hardware
and redo the alignment using new pivot connection
hardware. If the collars are “wedged” against the
frame bracket but the pivot connection shear fastener
has not yet been sheared, carefully loosen the pivot
connection and redo the alignment.
Solutions
During assembly, tighten the TORQ-RITE® Nut so
the eccentric collar is in place against the alignment
guides and flat against the frame bracket, between
the alignment guides, but loose enough to permit the
hardened flat washers to rotate freely.
Visually inspect the eccentric collar after alignment. If
the eccentric collar is resting on an alignment guide
in the “raised” position and the TORX®-head on the
shear-type bolt has been sheared, remove and discard
the pivot connection hardware and redo the alignment
using new pivot connection hardware. If the eccentric
collar is resting on an alignment guide in the “raised”
position but the TORX-head on the shear-type bolt
has not yet been sheared, carefully loosen the pivot
connection and redo the alignment.
L579 F
25
Alignment Procedures 
LOOSE PIVOT CONNECTION
Appearance
Refer to Figure 35 and Figure 36. The pivot bolt
appears to be loose and the frame bracket side
material is polished or surface coating is smudged
from collar movement, or worse.
Figure 34: Shear style pivot bolt
(Shown before and after shearing)
Causes
The most likely cause is a loose pivot connection,
possibly due to reasons defined in Figure 33 or:
• Improperly installed pivot bolt.
• Contaminants, such as undercoating, paint,
anti‑seize, etc., on pivot bolt and hardware during
installation.
• Installer did not shear the bolt (Figure 34).
• Unusually thick surface coat under alignment collar
(Figure 5 on page 7).
Shifted
alignment collar
Unsheared
pivot bolt
Polished parent
material/
surface coat
Results
Misaligned axle, damage to frame bracket, bushing
(ends of the bushing inner metal) and pivot
connection components.
Figure 35: Loose pivot bolt, not sheared in this example
Damaged/distorted slot
Inspection for wear should be performed on the
following:
• Alignment slot(s) within frame bracket - alignment
collar(s).
• Bushing and the ends of the bushing inner metal
that contacts frame bracket inside walls.
Normal slot
Alignment
guide
(damaged or
missing)
In severe cases, if gone unnoticed, movement
against the edge of the frame bracket alignment slot
(Figure 37) causes:
• A wallowed out alignment slot.
• Wearing down of the the nose on the collar, which
extends through the alignment slot.
• If the nose is worn through, can also ware into the
pivot bolt.
Alignment collar
(ghosted)
Polished parent
material/
surface coat
Figure 36: Damaged/distorted alignment slot
Nose
No visual wear is acceptable, replace as required.
Solutions
Replace frame bracket and pivot connection hardware.
If necessary, replace bushings.
IMPORTANT: The pivot bolt and hardware must
be replaced and cannot be reused.
Refer to PIVOT CONNECTION - FRAME
BRACKET on page 7 for more
information.
Figure 37: Loose pivot bolt collar nose damage
26
L579 F
Alignment Procedures
Appendix A:AXLE TARGET VALUE
SAMPLE CALCULATION
2. For the front axle, multiply this width by
0.001753. The resulting product is the front axle
target value.
Determine both axle target values as follows:
EXAMPLE E: Calculating thrust angle target value,
sine=0.1°:
Front
axle
target
value
Suppose the point-to-point width of the wheel-end
extenders is 122.625 inches. Multiplying this by
the 0.00175 constant produces:
Axle
target
value
122.625" × 0.00175 = ±0.215"
This provides the front axle (thrust angle) target
value.
3. For the axle, multiply this width by 0.000874. The
resulting product is the axle target value.
Figure 38: Point-to-point measurement for target values
1. Measure the point-to-point width of the installed
wheel-end extenders (Figure 38).
EXAMPLE F: Calculating thrust angle target value,
sine=0.05°:
As an alternative to measuring the point-to-point
width of the wheel-end extenders, the following
method can be used to approximate the distance
(Figure 39):
Suppose the point-to-point width of the wheel-end
extenders is 122.625 inches. Multiplying this by
the 0.00087 constant produces:
122.625" × 0.00087 = ±0.107"
wheel face-to-face distance
+ 2(wheel-end extender length)
point-to-point width of the installed wheel-end
extenders
This provides the axle (scrub angle) target value.
NOTE:If more than two axles, repeat Step 1
and Step 3 for each axle. Reference all
measurements to front axle.
While the wheel face-to-face distance will vary
with different wheel equipment, the following
method can be used to approximate the distance
without significantly impacting the alignment
tolerance:
79.2” for a 77.5” axle track
73.2” for a 71.5” axle track
3
For axle to kingpin distances of 10 feet or more, the 0.00175 constant
can be approximated by using the sine of 0.1°.
4
For axle to kingpin distances of 10 feet or more, the 0.00087 constant
can be approximated by using the sine of 0.05°.
Point-to-point
width
Wheel-end
extender
length
Face of
wheel
mounting
Wheel
face-to-face
distance
Figure 39: An alternative to measuring the point-to-point width of the wheel-end extenders
L579 F
27
Call Hendrickson at 866.RIDEAIR (743.3247) for additional information.
TRAILER COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS
2070 Industrial Place SE
Canton, OH 44707-2641 USA
866.RIDEAIR (743.3247)
330.489.0045 • Fax 800.696.4416
www.hendrickson-intl.com
L579 Rev F 12-15 ECN 24107
Rev E 05-14 ECN 22950
Rev D 04-13 ECN 21772
Rev C 06-07
Hendrickson Canada
250 Chrysler Drive, Unit #3
Brampton, ON Canada L6S 6B6
800.668.5360
905.789.1030 • Fax 905.789.1033
Hendrickson Mexicana
Circuito El Marqués Sur #29
Parque Industrial El Marqués
Pob. El Colorado, Municipio El Marqués,
Querétaro, México C.P. 76246
+52 (442) 296.3600 • Fax +52 (442) 296.3601
Rev B 04-03
Information contained in this literature was accurate at the time of publication. Product changes may have been made after the copyright date that are not reflected.
© 2015 Hendrickson USA, L.L.C. All Rights Reserved
Printed in United States of America